To start the automatic repairing, the player has to get close to the structure in their boat, and also refuel the Sea Yard occasionally using Tar. The repairing will stop once the boat is back to full durability, if the player moves too far away from the structure, or if it runs out of fuel. The player must stay in the boat for the Sea Yard to keep repairing the boat, even if placed very close to an island. When fully repaired, the Seagull sitting on top of the Sea Yard will repeatedly make loud noises.

If several Sea Yards are placed close to each other, only one will be activated to repair the player's boat.

Trivia

The Sea Yard was added to the Shipwrecked DLC more than a year after its official completion in the Home Sea Home update, after being tested in a beta branch for several months.